Of schism the true nature of it discovered and considered, with reference to the…Of schisme the true nature of it discovered and considered, with reference to the…

However,¹ not to derive this business any farther, but to put it to its proper issue. When it is proved, that this is the will and appointment of Jesus Christ, that every Believer, who liveth within such a precinct allotted by Civill Constitutions, wherein the people or Inhabitants do, or may usually meet for the celebration of the worship of God, or which they have light for, on any account whatever do make profession of, how profane soever that part of them be from whom the whole is denominated, how corrupt soever in their worship, how dead soever, as to the power of Godliness, must abide with them and join with them in the Administration and worship, and that indispensably; this business may come again under debate. In the mean time, I suppose the people of God are not in any such subjection. I speak not this, as laying down this for a principle, that it is the duty of every man to separate from that Church, wherein evil and wicked men are tolerated (though that opinion, must have many other attendances, before it can contract the least affinity with that of the same sound, which was condemned in the Donatists) but this only I say, that where any Church is over borne by a multitude of ⟨p. 265⟩men wicked and profane; so that it cannot reform it self, or will not according to the mind of Christ, a Believer is so far at liberty, that he may desert the Communion of that society, without the least guilt of Schism. But this state of things is now little pleaded for.

However,¹ not to derive this businesse any farther, but to put it to its proper issue. When it is proved, that this is the will and appointment of Jesus Christ, that every Believer, who liveth within such a precinct allotted by Civill Constitutions, wherein the people or Inhabitants do, or may usually meet for the celebration of the worship of God, or which they have light for, on any account whatever doe make profession of, how prophane soever that part of them be from whom the whole is denominated, how corrupt soever in their worship, how dead soever, as to the power of Godlinesse, must abide with them and joyne with them in the Administration and worship, and that indispensably; this businesse may come againe under debate. In the meane time, I suppose the people of God are not in any such subjection. I speake not this, as laying down this for a principle, that it is the duty of every man to separate from that Church, wherein evill and wicked men are tollerated (though that opinion, must have many other attendances, before it can contract the least affinity with that of the same sound, which was condmned in the Donatists) but this only I say, that where any Church is over borne by a multitude of